With the advent of the Damphyr "race*" it seems that any character of any level can "suddenly" develop vampiric tendencies... they could even retrain to find out they had vampiric blood!
While I like the way the "race*" has been tackled and the ease with which you can segway one into an existing game. Is this going to make any difference to your games?
What are your thoughts?
*
Show
I keep putting race in quotation marks as the Damphyr is a new type of race for D&D, one more like an aquired template, than a true "gotta be one from first level" race.
I assume this is from Open Grave?
I assume we're not talking about any PC's actually being Dhampyr, as Open Grave isn't a player resource (as of CCG 1.7)?
Beyond that I've little/nothing to add as I haven't read about this option yet.
Edit: and to answer the OP question:I am considering the idea. It could potentially fit one of my PCs, but the initial feat is not that great, imo.
Gomez
Where is the line going to be drawn? Outside of Blade I don't see too many Vampire heroes, and even then they aren't considered "good".
I can't play a human Cleric of Bane but right now I can play:
A Minotaur (I don't mind this as much but it's just an example of an evil monster race I'm placing here)
A Gnoll
A Shadar-Kai (and they mostly follow Shar right? Can't get more evil than that.)
...and now a Half-Vampire?
It just doesn't make sense to me how some races who are normally seen as evil could be allowed as playable however evil gods and PCs (or groups) aren't allowed. Next we'll be able to play Half-Illithids or something as the lines get blurred even more.
*shrugs*
It's a player 'race' in Dragon. It is a set of vampiric heritage feats (similar to how draconic heritage feats worked for sorcerers).
Edit: and to answer the OP question:I am considering the idea. It could potentially fit one of my PCs, but the initial feat is not that great, imo.
Gomez
Oh?
Geez, this week has been a blur for me. I only got around to reading the Zombies article last night before bed. *sigh*
Nobody tell mudbunny, he'll kick my butt for not staying up on the articles. ;)
Anti-heroes are staple of D&D, ralaly.
My bard, for instance, is a succubus who is trying to redeem herself (however half-heartedly) by performing a good deed for every bad things she has done. She is pretty dark, but she isn't evil and thus (due to being stuck in a thiefling body) legal.
In a way, she is more monstrous than your generic gnoll, as she has several centuries of being Evil-with-a-capital-E behind her.
So the idea of a dark background doesn't have to be a problem.
However, I do see a problem if all that Dragon is going to produce are going to be dark and evil races for players to play. I am not all together sure it is the best signal to the community.
I would like to see some nice races. Kind fey, for instance. Bring back the Brownie!
Gomez
However, as I predicted in the Damphyr thread in the Future Release section, we got a much more "pulp" Damphyr, who is more of a "Psuedo-Vampire", akin to the manga and Marvel genre, than the traditional version, although there is a nod to the "tortured, lonely soul" paradigm for those who want to dig out their velvet capes.
It's one way of attracting more folks to the game I imagine... and at least the Damphyr feats are far from being overpowered.
As I stated above, I like the way in which this was handled and I believe things bode well for future "bloodline" feats.
Next we'll be able to play Half-Illithids or something
Dude... sign me up for playing as a half-illithid. That sounds totally rad. :P
(I do sympathize with what you are saying about the "monstrous" races. For myself, I've just grown to accept the circus freak nature of D&D characters.)
I can't play a human Cleric of Bane but right now I can play:
A Minotaur (I don't mind this as much but it's just an example of an evil monster race I'm placing here)
Top be fair, a MM Minotaur Warrior (the rank and files) are alignment: any. The Cabalist and Savage are Chaotic Evil.
A Gnoll
A MM Gnoll is Chatic Evil. of course a PC gnoll isn't. They're a breakaway.
A Shadar-Kai (and they mostly follow Shar right? Can't get more evil than that.)
A MM Shadar-Kai is Unaligned.
...and now a Half-Vampire?
It just doesn't make sense to me how some races who are normally seen as evil could be allowed as playable however evil gods and PCs (or groups) aren't allowed.
Scott, you're a filthy racist! Prejudiced against the races of... ummm... evilness! ;) (just kidding!) The races in question do, as a whole, lean towards evil (except the Shadar-Kai who lean toward evil-lite... err... Unaligned). But as characters (and not monster adversaries) we're also talking about individuals whose alignment and world outlook aren't restricted to what is listed in the MM. If no such exceptions ever existed we would never have ended up with Drizzt. Well, some people may say that would be a good thing, but considering the sales volume that Drizzt books have a lot of people think it is a good thing.
Gomez
The point may be that of late ALL new (Dragon) races lean towards evil (or 'evil-lite'), rather than good.
"Evil" races are sexier than good races.
Sex sells.
It's pandering, but it's successful pandering.
So how many of your LFR players are suddenly going to discover that one of their ancestors was a "bit on the undead side"?
With the advent of the Damphyr "race*" it seems that any character of any level can "suddenly" develop vampiric tendencies... they could even retrain to find out they had vampiric blood!
While I like the way the "race*" has been tackled and the ease with which you can segway one into an existing game. Is this going to make any difference to your games?
What are your thoughts?
*ShowI keep putting race in quotation marks as the Damphyr is a new type of race for D&D, one more like an aquired template, than a true "gotta be one from first level" race.
Why? Overall it isn't that big a deal. It's sort of like spellscarred... but not multiclass, but it does have power swap feats. It isn't even a race... just flavoring. Persoanlly, I'm all for the more options. Frankly... at least in my area, I haven't seen many oddball races. There's one guy with a gnome, and I know one othe rplayer than myself that is playing a Minotaur. Have yet to meet any Gnolls.
Would have preferred to see it as part of Open Grave and given access to as Spellcarred was.
Just not a fan of all the monster races/options they release that are automatically a part of LFR. Home campaign, delve cool.
I do love the monsters represented though in the article. Love the Duergar one.
People flocked to the other races in LG because they never had the option to. It was shiny and new. Like I said, my personal experience has been that I have seen very few oddball races so far (IOW, few non-PHB/FRPG races... no comments about what's in the PHB as being oddball :P). make it restricted and everyoen seems to want to play it (as was seen from so many people wanting the Shadar-Kai/Orc/Gnome creation cards).
I think having them readily available makes people less likely to want to play them IMO.
People flocked to the other races in LG because they never had the option to. It was shiny and new.
I think this is the crux of the thing. While the "race" is new, people will consider it. However, as this race has little in the way of optimization, I forsee it will suffer the same ignominious fate as so many min/maxed Minotaur builds did, when the players were told it didn't have oversized weapons.
Although as I posted in on the optimization thread, a Damphyr Dwarf Hexhammer [Infernal Warlock/MC Fighter/Blood Knight] has possibilites, but that's a lot of investment for something that is only slightly better/different than a "basic" build using PHB material.
I think the Damphyr will remain a curiosity and little more.
There is still hope that this option will not be allowed when the new CCG comes out this month. Assuming that it does come out this month.
I am pretty sure that the RPGA will be very stand-offish when it comes to making article-specific rules. It is just not an option.
I can almost guarantee that it be allowed, like vereythign else from Dragon.
Things have to get really oddball to get disallowed.
Gomez
I can't play a human Cleric of Bane but
I guess the "no evil deity" rule is just to make an easy solution to an otherwise too complex problem. While I agree that there are gods who are merely evil and that there are gods of evil, the destinction is often too blurred and too easily to abuse if ruled in a more lenient way.
For most of the evil deities I could think of a non-evil wing of their church for at least lay-worshippers. With priests and paladins it's more difficult as they're usually supposed to follow the full dogma instead of cherrypicking like layworshippers.
E.g. a not overly religious swordmage praying to Shar because he was trained in the netherese-sembian army or a sailor worshipping Umberlee because he deeply respects her portfolio. Even a illusionist wizard revering Cyirc in his facet as lord of illusion. As long as these characters only occasionally pay some lip service to their deities without being zealotry followng their full dogmas it won't be disruptive to the table.
But once they change the CCG to allow such borderline cases too many people would try to abuse it by playing characters worshipping the darker sides of these deities.
For most of the evil deities I could think of a non-evil wing of their church for at least lay-worshippers. With priests and paladins it's more difficult as they're usually supposed to follow the full dogma instead of cherrypicking like layworshippers.
Not to get off-topic, but that reminds me of an adventure where characters met the "Moderate Church of Vecna"... oh they were a joy! :D
I was thinking it'd be cool to focus on rogue grabbing powers and use the blood drain with that, and there are a few other feats that would be beneficial; +1 move, all living bloodied foes grant CA. The downsides are that my character already needs all the feats he can get, there aren't really any grabbing powers until mid to high paragon, and grabbing while cool just ain't what it used to be.
ps- Wacky mixed messages in 4e- the rules say you can play a vampire drow assassin who's sold his soul to the devil...but you can't be evil. wtf?
Top be fair, a MM Minotaur Warrior (the rank and files) are alignment: any. The Cabalist and Savage are Chaotic Evil.
A MM Gnoll is Chatic Evil. of course a PC gnoll isn't. They're a breakaway.
A MM Shadar-Kai is Unaligned.
Scott, you're a filthy racist! Prejudiced against the races of... ummm... evilness! ;) (just kidding!) The races in question do, as a whole, lean towards evil (except the Shadar-Kai who lean toward evil-lite... err... Unaligned). But as characters (and not monster adversaries) we're also talking about individuals whose alignment and world outlook aren't restricted to what is listed in the MM. If no such exceptions ever existed we would never have ended up with Drizzt. Well, some people may say that would be a good thing, but considering the sales volume that Drizzt books have a lot of people think it is a good thing.
The difference, imho, with Drow and the other allowable PC monster races is that the Drow were at one point in time just regular Elves before they were cast out. Now I don't know if there was something like that for the other monster races or not.
With the races available I would rather play it as evil as I would feel I'm getting the most out of the race (especially in the case of the Shadar-Kai who while not necessarily Evil have a strong tie to Shar which is, imho, more evil than a race that is primarily evil).
Someone else stated there should be some nice races. Where is the Aasimar (as an example)?
I like player options, however some of them as of late have made me question what is going on.
...oh and if sex sells then where's the chainmail bikini? :D :D
that's so ridiculous i just might do it...
what's really insane is that as far as i can tell, since warforged are living humanoids, my spellscarred warforged can now become a spellscarred warforged dhampyr.
that's so ridiculous i just might do it...
Well, maybe the wood used in some parts of your body is from the coffin of a vampire
I think the Damphyr will remain a curiosity and little more.
Actually, I'd suspect many ranged attackers turn vampire in Epic...Scent of Blood is quite nasty in that regard. +2 to hit against most opponents at some point during a combat?
what's really insane is that as far as i can tell, since warforged are living humanoids, my spellscarred warforged can now become a spellscarred warforged dhampyr.
that's so ridiculous i just might do it...
I think the Vampiric Heritage feat specifies "living humanoid"... I believe that as Living Constructs, Warforged don't qualify... but I might be wrong.
gnoll dhampyr in plate.
Type
A creature’s type summarizes some basic things about its appearance and behavior. Types are: animate, beast, humanoid, and magical beast. These terms are defined in the glossary.
Humanoid [Type]: Humanoid monsters are usually bipedal, but some have monstrous or animalistic characteristics, such as the squidlike head of a mind flayer or the serpentine body of a yuan-ti abomination.
Living Construct [Keyword]: A living construct is considered a living creature that does not need to eat, drink, or breathe. However, this does not render the creature immune to any effect. A living construct needs only 4 hours to benefit from extended rest, and it gains a +2 bonus to saving throws against ongoing damage. When a living construct rolls a death save, it takes the better of its die roll or 10 as the result.
So you can have a Spellscarred Dhampyr Warforged.
Heck, wait for PHB2, so you can take the Druid class and make a Transformer.
-karma
So you can have a Spellscarred Dhampyr Warforged.
Heck, wait for PHB2, so you can take the Druid class and make a Transformer.
-karma
Winner.
So you can have a Spellscarred Dhampyr Warforged.
Heck, wait for PHB2, so you can take the Druid class and make a Transformer.
and for the extra cheesy topping, add on the ornithopter.
So you can have a Spellscarred Dhampyr Warforged.
Heck, wait for PHB2, so you can take the Druid class and make a Transformer.
-karma
Transformers
Warforged in disguise
battling the evil forces of Vecna
I smell a sitcom
Transformers
Warforged in disguise
battling the evil forces of Vecna
I smell a sitcom
No thats the smell of my lunch coming back up your smelling.
A Damphorged is really pushing the limit of what DMs will tolerate in their games and if I knew a player was going to add a Spell Scar the first words out of my mouth would be HELL NO. No DM in his right mind would allow a Spellscarred Damphorge to be played in an RPGA game. Can you imagine that conversation "I'm going to play a Warforged who's organic fluid came from a Damphyr. This is how my charactor can tap into a latent vampire ancestry." DM says "Points for creativity" then the conversation continues "I'm going to add a Spellscar" this is the point where your DM sits down and says "Do it and I tear your charactor up it's one or the other not both".
Except that I don't think DMs have the right to do that as long as the character is created by the RPGA/LFR rules. If DMs can't refuse players access to things like Warforged or Gnoll, they should not be able to say no to this. Welcome to the reality of an everything-in-by-default system.
I think the Vampiric Heritage feat specifies "living humanoid"... I believe that as Living Constructs, Warforged don't qualify... but I might be wrong.
Warforged are living creatures and if you look int he MM they are listed as Medium Natural Humanoids. Living construct is a keyword, not a type. So yes, a warforged can be a Dhampyr.
A Damphorged is really pushing the limit of what DMs will tolerate in their games and if I knew a player was going to add a Spell Scar the first words out of my mouth would be HELL NO. No DM in his right mind would allow a Spellscarred Damphorged to be played in an RPGA game.
Doesn't matter what the DM thinks. It's a perfectly legal option in an LFR game. A bit of a mess if you ask me, but legal all the same.
Someone else stated there should be some nice races. Where is the Aasimar (as an example)?
Because they're in the PHB2. (Devas) Nice races will likely be covered in the iterative PHBs. Dragon will be for the more unusual ones.
Warforged are living creatures and if you look int he MM they are listed as Medium Natural Humanoids. Living construct is a keyword, not a type. So yes, a warforged can be a Dhampyr.
Hmm...
Can Gargoyles be turned into Vampires?
Cos if so, if a Warforged was constructed from the remains of a vampiric gargoyle, well, there's your backstory.
Bonus points if you name him Coldstone.
-karma
A Damphorged is really pushing the limit of what DMs will tolerate in their games and if I knew a player was going to add a Spell Scar the first words out of my mouth would be HELL NO. No DM in his right mind would allow a Spellscarred Damphorge to be played in an RPGA game. Can you imagine that conversation "I'm going to play a Warforged who's organic fluid came from a Damphyr. This is how my charactor can tap into a latent vampire ancestry." DM says "Points for creativity" then the conversation continues "I'm going to add a Spellscar" this is the point where your DM sits down and says "Do it and I tear your charactor up it's one or the other not both".
Is it bad that now I want to create a Spellcarred Damphyr Warforged simply because it will bother some people? Granted it would pretty much be a waste of 2 feats just to acquire a bizzare. Maybe make him a cleric or paladin of Kelemvor to add insult to injury, hehe....
Vampire Angel... hehe, wouldn't that be ironic?
Joss Whedon called it seems Vampire Angel is copyrighted and his lawyers at Wolfram & Hart want to have a word with you.
Is it bad that now I want to create a Spellcarred Damphyr Warforged simply because it will bother some people? Granted it would pretty much be a waste of 2 feats just to acquire a bizzare. Maybe make him a cleric or paladin of Kelemvor to add insult to injury, hehe....
Of all the people I know you are the one who should make the attempt so feel free and tell me how it goes. :evillaugh
Joss Whedon called it seems Vampire Angel is copyrighted and his lawyers at Wolfram & Hart want to have a word with you.
A Shadar-Kai (and they mostly follow Shar right? Can't get more evil than that.)
*cough* Raven Queen/Kelemvor *cough cough*
Shadar-Kai are REALLY well described in the Manual of the Planes. They were human refuges that the Raven Queen/Kelemvor adopted. They fight off the depressing nature of the Shadowfell by being extremely passionate (these are the guys that mix sugar and tobasco into their food to avoid becoming bored--because being bored in the Shadowfell is one step before disappearing).
Warforged are living creatures and if you look int he MM they are listed as Medium Natural Humanoids. Living construct is a keyword, not a type. So yes, a warforged can be a Dhampyr.
MM isn't a player source. Dragon 364 lists Warforged as "Constructs" and "Living Constructs." Not "Living Humanoids."
But then again, the PHB doesn't list Humans as Humanoids either... hmmm... Checking the errata... Nope... I guess there are no PC Humanoids in LFR.
Doesn't matter what the DM thinks. It's a perfectly legal option in an LFR game. A bit of a mess if you ask me, but legal all the same.
I agree that if something is legal then a DM has no right to prohibit it in RPGA/LFR unless the player starts being disruptive with it. Now a DM that is encouraging one player to attack another is being disruptive and THAT person should be removed from the campaign.
*cough* Raven Queen/Kelemvor *cough cough*
Shadar-Kai are REALLY well described in the Manual of the Planes. They were human refuges that the Raven Queen/Kelemvor adopted. They fight off the depressing nature of the Shadowfell by being extremely passionate (these are the guys that mix sugar and tobasco into their food to avoid becoming bored--because being bored in the Shadowfell is one step before disappearing).
Incorrect. Shadar-kai get their own section in the FRCG in the threats section on Netheril. They formed spontaneously in the FR during and for a couple of decades after the Spellplague amongst the Netherese who then bread true. Furthermore, the Shade Princes have a ritual that can actually change a human into a shadar-kai as a lesser gift compared to that of the shade template. Most shadar-kai are high valued servants in Netherese society, one step above normal humans and one step below shades. Many worship Shar. Remember that shadar-kai are not normally a player race so the fact that their background difference with a standard setting are only described in the DM book is usually not a problem.
You also shouldn't compare the Raven Queen and Kalemvor at too close a level. They are both gods of the dead, protectors of the souls and enemies of undead, but there are also a couple of big differences. For one thing, Kalemvor lives in a dominion on the Astral Sea. Souls do come from Shadowfell, but he has no special stronghold on said plane and I cannot find anything suggesting he has a special interest in Shadowfell. Kalemvor also judges the souls (mainly on whether they did worship the gods and if so if they followed the tenents of said god - not whether they are good or evil), something the Raven Queen does not. Kalemvor is his real name, he was a mortal a bit more than 1 century ago, so Orcus learning his real name is not going to have an impact either. His biggest enemy would also be Cyric, whose domains he partially absorbed and Cyric.
Of course, having said that, it is certainly possible there are more traditional shadar-kai in the FR who are similar to the ones described in the MM and the Planar Handbook. I haven't seen any references to them, suggesting to me that the majority of shadar-kai are of the Netheril and Shar connection.
Pieter Sleijpen
RPGA LFR Global Administrator
MM isn't a player source. Dragon 364 lists Warforged as "Constructs" and "Living Constructs." Not "Living Humanoids."
You are right it isn't a player resource, but the player resources do not list the origin and types for the races. The PHB doesn't list Elves or Eladrin as Medium Fey Humanoids. Or Halflings as Small Natural Humanoids. Or Tieflings as Medium Natural Humanoids, etc. It is, however, in the MM. To say that it suddenly, magically doesn't count unless the race in general is an NPC because only DMs and authors can utilize the MM is just grasping at straws. We're not talking about making a character from the Racial traits section.
Oh, and Construct and Living Construct are Keywords, not Types (such as Humanoid, Animate, Magical Beast, etc.).
Well, maybe the wood used in some parts of your body is from the coffin of a vampire
Or maybe during his last oil change they slipped in some vampire blood...
One of my players is making Damphyr Warforged Fighter, he is all about the Self-Healing Powers.
Or maybe during his last oil change they slipped in some vampire blood...
One of my players is making Damphyr Warforged Fighter, he is all about the Self-Healing Powers.
BOW BEFORE YOUR VAMPIRE CYBORG MASTERS!
You are right it isn't a player resource, but the player resources do not list the origin and types for the races. The PHB doesn't list Elves or Eladrin as Medium Fey Humanoids. Or Halflings as Small Natural Humanoids. Or Tieflings as Medium Natural Humanoids, etc. It is, however, in the MM. To say that it suddenly, magically doesn't count unless the race in general is an NPC because only DMs and authors can utilize the MM is just grasping at straws. We're not talking about making a character from the Racial traits section.
Oh, and Construct and Living Construct are Keywords, not Types (such as Humanoid, Animate, Magical Beast, etc.).
Not agreeing or disagreeing - but how does this argument hold in light of Minotaurs "suddenly, magically" losing Oversized between the MM and Dragon?
Not agreeing or disagreeing - but how does this argument hold in light of Minotaurs "suddenly, magically" losing Oversized between the MM and Dragon?
You should know the answer to this. Monsters dont hold or use the same rules as PC's so have different powers and abilities than PC's do. As much has been said by a couple of different developers. So an NPC Minotaur is a monster and therefore can have oversized since it does not follow the same rules as a PC does. And on the other hand the Minotaur PC has to follow the rules for PC's and thus can not have oversized.
Minotaurs might not get the oversized weapon capacity but Spellscarred: Larger Than Life would give the charactor ridiculous options like being able to gore from one square farther away than normal on a charge.
True, but it could only do that once per day.
Not agreeing or disagreeing - but how does this argument hold in light of Minotaurs "suddenly, magically" losing Oversized between the MM and Dragon?
Easy, you're talking about the difference between a race's feature/trait and its origin and type.
It's one thing for the developers to say that the PC version of the NPC racial traits don't include one feature (in this case it was Oversized). It's another thing entirely to try to say that humans aren't medium natural humanoids because it doesn't have the Origin and Type in the PHB despite the MM telling us that they are.
While it may not be overpowered I don't think it should be legal for LFR play. If so I would tell the players if anyone plays a follower of Kelemvor (or otherwise hunts undead) that any "in character" actions are allowed...up to and including attacking each other.
Fortunately someone has to ask me if they can attack my character, not the DM ;)
Given how almost all the the benefits and paragon paths are pretty worthless for their cost, I don't foresee too many players picking it up except for those vampire fanboy types...
I wouldn't call myself a vampire fanboy, but I've got a ranger whose background was
Thom lived in Aglarond his whole life and is now seeking out the Simbul and to return her to Aglarond to save it against Thay.
Upon making him a Dhampyr (hadn't played him at all so I could change it) his background is now
Thom's mother was attacked by a vampire when she was pregnant with him, which caused Thom to be born a dhampyr. His mother had trouble showing him affection while he met much bigotry against him by his neighbours. As such he spent most of his time in the wild.
Upon reaching 18 Thom became determined to seek out the Simbul and to return her to Aglarond and to hopefully become a hero in the process.
For me that's simply a more interesting character. He isn't any less heroic, in fact I think he's even more heroic (he wants to help a people who have scorned him and hopefully gain some respect in the process).
A Damphorged is really pushing the limit of what DMs will tolerate in their games and if I knew a player was going to add a Spell Scar the first words out of my mouth would be HELL NO. No DM in his right mind would allow a Spellscarred Damphorge to be played in an RPGA game. Can you imagine that conversation "I'm going to play a Warforged who's organic fluid came from a Damphyr. This is how my charactor can tap into a latent vampire ancestry." DM says "Points for creativity" then the conversation continues "I'm going to add a Spellscar" this is the point where your DM sits down and says "Do it and I tear your charactor up it's one or the other not both".
Fortunately DM's can't actually do this, and if a DM wants to do it I'd just as soon not play at their table.
Fortunately someone has to ask me if they can attack my character, not the DM ;)
And has been amusingly pointed out... all the rules require is that they ask. They don't have to have permission.
(Well, not really, but if you go super strictly by the RAW, you only have to ask... which is just too funny :P)
Easy, you're talking about the difference between a race's feature/trait and its origin and type.
It's one thing for the developers to say that the PC version of the NPC racial traits don't include one feature (in this case it was Oversized). It's another thing entirely to try to say that humans aren't medium natural humanoids because it doesn't have the Origin and Type in the PHB despite the MM telling us that they are.
Fair enough, just trying to get a little further into your head.
Thanks.
And has been amusingly pointed out... all the rules require is that they ask. They don't have to have permission.
(Well, not really, but if you go super strictly by the RAW, you only have to ask... which is just too funny :P)
You do that too often and see how often people play with you. And if the DM let's you get away with it, again I'd just as soon not play with that DM.
Dude... chill. Some people are just way to serious...
Heh. I was just responding to the large distaste exhibited by some here, all but saying they'll make the lives of any players miserable if they dare to have a Dhampyr.
Or was it all just friendly joking around that went past my head? ;)
While it may not be overpowered I don't think it should be legal for LFR play. If so I would tell the players if anyone plays a follower of Kelemvor (or otherwise hunts undead) that any "in character" actions are allowed...up to and including attacking each other.
Where is the line going to be drawn? Outside of Blade I don't see too many Vampire heroes, and even then they aren't considered "good".
I can't play a human Cleric of Bane but right now I can play:
A Minotaur (I don't mind this as much but it's just an example of an evil monster race I'm placing here)
A Gnoll
A Shadar-Kai (and they mostly follow Shar right? Can't get more evil than that.)
...and now a Half-Vampire?
It just doesn't make sense to me how some races who are normally seen as evil could be allowed as playable however evil gods and PCs (or groups) aren't allowed. Next we'll be able to play Half-Illithids or something as the lines get blurred even more.
*shrugs*
And the Drow aren't normally considered evil?
And the Drow aren't normally considered evil?
Yes they USED to be considered to usually evil. But the new realms is 100 years in the future. Correllon removed the curse from those Drow that made the choice to change and Elistraes followers were absorbed by him or Selune as followers.
Even though there is nothing in the current FR manuals we have, you basically have Dark Elves and Drow, or Those that were redeemed and those that were not.